WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:08.280 Hello, my name is Jose David Olarte, I am the CEO of Tulum Fashions. 00:08.280 --> 00:13.800 I started this business approximately 11 years ago with a clothing store. 00:13.800 --> 00:19.760 Today we have approximately 1,500 product references, which makes me feel proud. 00:19.760 --> 00:25.880 It all started with a dream of creating a swimwear brand, and I took on the 00:25.880 --> 00:30.840 challenge of going to the United States, knocking on doors, trying to open new markets 00:30.840 --> 00:36.800 and find clients, to export Colombian craftsmanship while also creating social impact 00:36.800 --> 00:41.240 with a group of single mothers who were working with us at that time. 00:41.240 --> 00:46.880 I consider myself someone deeply committed to my work. Since we started the company together with my 00:46.880 --> 00:55.320 partner, we treat quality as something non-negotiable, along with creativity and the ability to adapt 00:55.320 --> 01:00.560 to each client's needs, offering them comprehensive solutions all in one place. 01:00.560 --> 01:06.400 I'm basically a visionary. I never imagined we would get to where we are today, 01:06.400 --> 01:13.040 but I am 100% happy. I feel truly grateful to have achieved so many things and to know 01:13.040 --> 01:18.000 that we are in a growth process — from starting with just one person to today 01:18.000 --> 01:24.080 having approximately 30 direct employees and around 50 indirect ones. 01:24.080 --> 01:29.080 Before Tulum Fashions, I studied advertising at the 01:29.080 --> 01:34.280 Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogota. My family owns some properties, 01:34.280 --> 01:40.080 hotels in Santa Marta, and that's where this business was born — seeing that everyone dressed the same 01:40.080 --> 01:44.400 when going to the beach or the pool. Many people from other places would come 01:44.400 --> 01:48.440 to my family's establishment in Santa Marta. 01:48.440 --> 01:53.840 The idea of creating a brand of swim trunks came from wanting something different from 01:53.840 --> 01:58.920 the typical Quiksilver look, which was like a beach uniform for everyone. 01:58.920 --> 02:03.920 I wanted to innovate with prints inspired by a more European aesthetic, 02:03.920 --> 02:09.440 with shorter trunks. So that's what drove me before starting the brand — 02:09.520 --> 02:13.640 dreaming of a business that would provide me with income. 02:13.640 --> 02:16.840 I was never the type of person to work behind a desk for someone else, 02:16.840 --> 02:20.000 and now I have my own company, thankfully. 02:20.000 --> 02:25.280 My role in this company is important in the production chain, 02:25.280 --> 02:32.600 because I also sell. Without me going out to find clients, talking about what we do as a company, 02:32.600 --> 02:37.160 selling our dreams through words, none of this would be possible right now. 02:37.200 --> 02:41.640 We have more salespeople now, which makes me happy, but that's how we started. 02:41.640 --> 02:46.000 I also feel very involved. The good thing is that since I started this dream, 02:46.000 --> 02:52.240 I had to understand each process from the beginning. I got deeply involved and learned 02:52.240 --> 02:57.800 about the problems we can face in production, development, and garment construction, 02:57.800 --> 03:02.560 because I had to learn it all hands-on. We grew one step at a time, 03:02.720 --> 03:07.280 I started with one other person and that's how we grew. I got involved in every area 03:07.280 --> 03:10.960 so that I could truly understand what was happening. 03:10.960 --> 03:16.120 When it came to selling, I went to the development area and learned about fabrics. 03:16.120 --> 03:20.480 I don't know how exactly, but I know a lot — I know the garments, the references, 03:20.480 --> 03:24.840 the behavior of fabrics, how to offer the right solutions to clients, 03:24.840 --> 03:31.440 whether something works or doesn't. In the production area, they come to me to discuss what's going well and what's not. 03:31.520 --> 03:35.920 So I can make a real impact on the process and keep the client updated 03:35.920 --> 03:41.520 on delivery dates, how we're progressing, and I feel confident 03:41.520 --> 03:45.000 that we will deliver — because I believe that's essential when you're representing 03:45.000 --> 03:50.560 a full-service company in front of clients. Working at Tulum Fashions has had a huge impact 03:50.560 --> 03:55.200 on my personal and professional life. Personally, because I've been able to achieve 03:55.200 --> 04:00.760 things I only thought were possible in dreams. I never thought I'd be able to make decisions 04:00.760 --> 04:06.640 for a group of people or have the courage to go to another country to sell. It was 04:06.640 --> 04:12.880 like an internal test that reaffirmed my qualities — that all dreams in this life 04:12.880 --> 04:18.280 are achievable. I feel proud of those accomplishments. Looking back at the person 04:18.280 --> 04:23.200 who just wanted to sell swim trunks and seeing that we now have a full manufacturing operation that serves 04:23.200 --> 04:28.360 as a partner for other companies, helping them make their dreams come true — it fills me with 04:28.360 --> 04:33.240 joy. And professionally, because going from having losses to having 04:33.240 --> 04:38.280 earnings, a stable income, and being able to positively impact the lives of people who 04:38.280 --> 04:43.320 truly need a salary through fashion — I feel that fills me with pride, 04:43.320 --> 04:49.200 happiness, and knowing that I'll be able to keep doing this for a long time makes it even better.